DOCSLIB.ORG

ד"סב Pirkei Avos- Perek 1 Congregation Ohr Torah Rosh Chodesh Iyar 2020 Rabbi Sariel Malitzky Question to Ponder: Why Is

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
ד בס"ד Pirkei Avos- Perek 1 Congregation Ohr Torah Rosh Chodesh Iyar 2020 Rabbi Sariel Malitzky which literally translates as Fathers? The ,אבות Question to ponder: Why is this Masechta (Tractate) called name of the Masechta usually reflects the character of that Masechta, the main theme of that Masechta, or ?"אבות" have to do with פרקי אבות teaches some lesson about the Masechta. What does There are numerous reasons offered by the Meforshim. because it אבות writes that the Masechta is called )מחזור ויטרי( The Machzor Vitri1 (1 records the history of the transmission of our Torah. The opening Mishna begins with The Mishna relates our history back to Moshe Rabbenu, who is the .משה קבל תורה מסיני .of our people ,אב start, the ,writes that any idea related to character development (תפארת ישראל) The Tiferes Yisrael (2 is primarily a פרקי אבות .אבות Middos, and Mussar that you will find, can be found in Masechta about Middos and Mussar. It is mostly about the development of one’s .the foundation, of all character development ,"אב" character. It is the .represents the start אבות because אבות The Tiferes Yisrael also suggests that it is called (3 דרך ארץ that גמרא )פסחים( and a מדרש )ויקרא רבה( Middos is where it all began. He quotes a .דרך ארץ קדמה לתורה preceded the Torah by 26 generations. We know that 4) The Maharal2 suggests a beautiful explanation. The primary role of a father is to educate, guide, and direct his son on the proper path. A father must, at times, rebuke (lovingly) his son. If the father does a good job, the son will listen to the direction and guidance of his father, follow in his footsteps, and lead a productive life. This Masechta The entire Masechta is a work of .אב is a work of Mussar, which is given by a father, an .אבות 5) The Medrash Shmuel3 explains that one who teaches, guides, and directs another individual on the path of Torah is considered like a father. It is as if he or she created and brought with them the (שרה and אברהם) raised the individual. The Torah writes that they 1 Simcha ben Samuel of Vitry (died 1105) was a French Talmudist of the 11th and 12th centuries and pupil of Rashi 2 Yehudah Loew ben Bezalel (between 1512 and 1526 – 17 September 1609, widely known as the Maharal of Prague 3 Rabbi Samuel ben Isaac de Uçeda was a Jewish commentator and preacher. He was a pupil of the Arizal and R’ Chayim Vital, with whom he studied kabbalah, and became a rabbi and preacher in Safed and, later, in Constantinople. 1 the souls that they “made” or “created” in Haran). Rashi explains that) נפש אשר עשו בחרן they “made” them because they converted them and that was tantamount to making them. fathers, because through the wisdom they are ,אבות in this Masechta are תנאים The imparting, we become their sons. ?שבועות and פסח during the months between פרקי אבות Question to ponder: Why is it the custom to learn on Shabbos פרקי אבות Before we address that question, let’s think about why is there a minhag at all to learn ?אבות afternoon? There are dozens of Masechtos! Why According to some, the custom was to learn Avos every Shabbos and not just during the weeks between Pesach and Shavuos. The Machzor Vitri explains that the entire Jewish people (not just the scholars) would be in shul on Shabbos afternoon (to hear leining). We utilized the opportunity that their presence presented by teaching them Pirkei Avos. Why Avos though? 1) The Gemara in Bava Kamma (30a) writes: אמר רב יהודה: האי מאן דבעי למהוי חסידא, לקיים מילי דנזיקין; רבא אמר: מילי דאבות; ואמרי לה: מילי דברכות damage law). Rava says) נזיקין One who wishes to be righteous or pious should fulfill matters of [he should fulfill] matters of Avos. Some say [he should fulfill] matter of Blessings. The Maharal on that Gemara, and the Maharsha, who writes very similarly, explain that there are three areas of Jewish life that a person striving to be complete (the ultimate level for a Jew is to .which means to be complete or perfect) needs to work on, develop, and master ,שלמות reach They write that each of the three opinions stated in the Gemara as the optimal path to become a .relate to these three areas חסיד The complete or perfect Jew needs to be: Complete with others. This connotes someone who has perfected his -שלם עם זולתו מבני אדם (1 .בין אדם לחבירו dealing with others. This is known as .נזיקין should strive to perfect himself in matters of חסיד One who wishes to become a One who cares about another person will undoubtedly be careful in how they treat their neighbor’s or friend’s possessions. complete with himself. This connotes a refined character. This is a person who is -שלם בעצמו (2 .בין אדם לעצמו in complete control of their thoughts, emotions, and actions. This is known as One who wishes to perfect their personality and character should fulfill Avos. Avos is replete with lessons and teachings about one’s personality. 2 complete with the Creator. This connotes the individual who has perfected their -שלם עם בוראו (3 .בין אדם למקום relationship with Hashem. This is known as One who wishes to perfect their relationship should focus on Berachos and on always thanking Hashem. The Maharal explains that the three opinions are not necessarily disagreeing with each other. Rather, each offers a different perspective on life and our attempts to grow. Based on this, the comment of the Machzor Vitri is much more understandable. We teach Avos to the people in before beginning to work ,שלם בעצמו shul so that they can first improve themselves, to become on the other aspects of our service of Hashem. writes that when the Jewish people left Egypt )אמת ליעקב אבות( Rav Yaakov Kaminetzky (2 they complained to Moshe. They asked “Where is the Torah that you promised us?” Already in Egypt, they were told that they would receive the Torah. They could reckon with all of the suffering that they endured because of the promise of the Torah. They but there was no Torah. They went to Moshe to complain. Moshe told ים סוף crossed the them that they needed to prepare. They needed multiple weeks to prepare themselves to be on the level to receive the Torah. We, too, need weeks to prepare for the Torah and Avos is the perfect thing to learn to prepare for the Torah. 3) Medrash Shmuel suggests that our learning of Avos during this time is related to the fact that during this time the 24,000 students of Rebbe Akiva passed away. The Gemara .(they did not treat each other properly) שלא נהגו כבוד זה לזה relates that they died because Since so much of Avos is about Middos and how we should treat others, we learn it during this time. משנה א משֶׁה קִ בֵּל ּתוֹרָה מִסִינַי,ּומְ סָרָ ּה לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ, וִ יהוֹשֻׁעַ לִזְקֵּ נִים, ּוזְקֵּ נִים לִנְבִיאִ ים, ּונְבִיאִ ים מְ סָרּוהָ לְַאנְשֵּ יכְנֶׁסֶׁת :הַגְדוֹלָה. הֵּם ָאמְ רּו השְלשָ דְ בָרִ ים, הֱוּומְ תּונִים בַדִ ין, וְהַ עֲמִ ידּו תַלְמִ ידִ ים הַרְ בֵּה, וַ עֲׂשּו סְ יָג לַּתוֹרָ ה Moses received the Torah at Sinai and transmitted it to Joshua, Joshua to the elders, and the elders to the prophets, and the prophets to the Men of the Great Assembly. They said three things: Be patient in [the administration of] justice, raise many disciples and make a fence round the Torah. 3 This ?משה קבל תורה מסיני Question to ponder: Why does the opening Mishna begin with this history of introduction could really be appropriate at the start of any Masechta in the entire Shas! So why is it found ?אבות specifically here in or the Bartenura4, explains that when it comes to רע"ב known as the ,רב עובדיה מברטנורא (1 Middos and character, anyone can say what they like. Look at how often the standards of morality in the world change. It seems that people are making it up as they go along. This is not the way Judaism works. EVERYTHING is from the Torah. Middos, Mussar, and character development were also received by Moshe when he accepted the Torah. Since one could possibly think that the instructions found in these Mishnayos are less divine .משה קבל תורה מסיני than other Mishnayos or halachos, the Mishna starts with .suggests an idea which is as relevant today as it was when he wrote it תפארת ישראל The (2 People tend to think that all one must do is learn the Torah and keep the Mitzvos and nothing else matters. They think that as long as they learn a lot they will merit Olam Habah. a. He points out that there are numerous statements in Chazal which refute that notion. The punishment for those with poor Middos -קשה עונשן של מידות )יבמות כא.( .i will be very harsh -כל העוסק בתורה ואין לו מו"מ באמונה ואינו מתנהג בנחת עם הבריות אוי לו )יומא כו.( .ii Woe is to one who learns Torah but does not conduct their business honestly and does not deal with people pleasantly. who learned Torah, only lived ,רבה points out that )יבמות קה.( iii. The Gemara who learned Torah but was also involved in אביי until he was forty, while .acts of kindness) lived until he was sixty years old) גמילות חסדים b. The Mishna is teaching us that the Torah and all of the Middos and Mussar found .is also from Sinai and must be taken as seriously אבות in משה קבל תורה Question to ponder: Why does the Mishna write that Moshe received the Torah from Sinai משה קבל בתורה That’s not really accurate! He received the Torah from Hashem! It could have written ?מסיני !which means that he received at Sinai but it should not say that he received it from Sinai ,בסיני 1) The Kedushas Levi writes that due to his extreme sense of humility, Moshe did not want to be the one to accept the Torah.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Rosh Chodesh and the Transformation of Ritual a GREAT JEWISH BOOKS TEACHER WORKSHOP RESOURCE KIT
    Rosh Chodesh and the Transformation of Ritual A GREAT JEWISH BOOKS TEACHER WORKSHOP RESOURCE KIT Teachers’ Guide This guide accompanies resources that can be found at: http://teachgreatjewishbooks.org/resource-kits/rosh-chodesh-and- transformation-ritual. Introduction Rosh Chodesh means “head of the month,” and refers to the minor Jewish holiday that occurs at the beginning of each new month in the Hebrew calendar. The ancient Rabbis interpreted the Biblical verses Exodus 12:1-12:2 as requiring that the new month be determined by eyewitness testimony. Just as God showed Moses and the high priest Aaron the new moon, witnesses were supposed to testify before the judges of the Sanhedrin, the Great Court in Jerusalem, that they had seen the new moon. The officiants at the Holy Temple would then mark the occasion with a sacrifice, feasting, and fanfare. After the destruction of the Second Temple, this eyewitness procedure was replaced by astronomical and mathematical calculations that were used to determine when each month began. Bonfires were lit on the mountains between Jerusalem and Babylonia to announce the arrival of the new moon. In later years, as witnesses and messengers were replaced with a fixed calendar, few Rosh Chodesh rituals remained, although it continued to be marked liturgically by the birkat ha-chodesh (or, in Ashkenazic pronunciation, birkas hakhoydesh), the blessing of the month, which is recited on the Saturday before each new month begins. Because of associations between women and the moon, Rosh Chodesh has long been considered a special holiday for women. This association was taken up by Jewish feminists in the 1970s as they innovated to create Jewish rituals that affirmed women’s strength and created empowering female community within Jewish ritual life.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rosh Chodesh Planner Was Designed to Serve As a Resource for Shluchos When Planning Women's Programs. Many Years Ago, When
    בס"ד PREFACE The Rosh Chodesh Planner was designed to serve as a resource for shluchos when planning women’s programs. Many years ago, when one of the first shluchim arrived in Pittsburgh, PA, prepared to combat the assimilation of America through hafotzas hamayonos, one of the directives of the Rebbe to the shlucha was that it did not suffice for her to only become involved in her husband’s endeavors, but that she should become involved in her own areas of activities as well. Throughout the years of his nesiyus, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Nesi Dorenu, appreciated and valued the influential role the woman plays as the akeres habayis. This is evident in the many sichos which the Rebbe dedicated specifically to Jewish women and girls worldwide. Involved women are catalysts for involved families and involved communities. Shluchos, therefore, have always dedicated themselves towards reaching a broad spectrum of Jewish women from many affiliations, professions and interests. Programs become educational vehicles, provide networking and outreach opportunities for the participants, and draw them closer in their unified quest for a better and more meaningful tomorrow. Many shluchos have incorporated a schedule of gathering on a monthly basis. Brochures are mailed out at the onset of the year containing the year’s schedule at a glance. Any major event(s) are incorporated as well. This system offers the community an organized and well-planned view of the year’s events. It lets them know what to expect and gives them the ability to plan ahead. In the z’chus of all the positive accomplishments that have been and are continuously generated from women’s programs, may we be worthy of the immediate and complete Geulah.
    [Show full text]
  • Rosh Chodesh
    ROSH CHODESH JUNE 2020 VOLUME XXIV NUMBER 1 4631 South Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota, FL 34231 (enter ONLY from Proctor Road between Beneva and Swift Roads) Phone (941) 924-1802 www.SINAISRQ.org SPECIAL NOTES: about the cover: Though we are physically Rosh Chodesh distancing ourselves for all of our health and safety, we are (Beginning of the Month; literally Head continuing to find ways to of the Month) is the name for the first socially and emotionally day of every month in the Hebrew cal- connect, grow and celebrate. endar, marked by the birth of a new moon. Please refer to pages 10-11 of Female-centered Rosh Chodesh observances are this tablet along with visiting centered on small gatherings of women, where Temple Sinai's website and there is often a particular interest in the Shekinah, considered by the kabbalah to be a feminine as- Facebook page. pect of God. These groups engage programs that center around issues important to Jewish women, Temple Sinai’s Website: exploring spirituality, religious education, ritual, https://templesinai-sarasota.org/ health issues, music, history, art, etc. Temple Sinai’s Facebook Page: Miriam's Cup (for the prophet Miriam) originated in the 1980s in a Boston Rosh Chodesh group. It https://www.facebook.com/ was invented by Stephanie Loo, who filled it with templesinaisarasota/?ref=bookmarks mayim hayim (living waters) and used it in a femi- nist ceremony of guided meditation. Some seders (including the original Women's Seder, but not lim- During this Covid-19 crisis, if the temple ited to women-only seders) now set Miriam's Cup office is not available, please contact as well as the traditional cup for the prophet Eli- Temple Sinai Clergy directly for the jah.
    [Show full text]
  • Tadir and Mekudash
    ` בס"ד Volume 17 Issue 5 Tadir and Mekudash The tenth perek discusses the order of precedence regarding since the Torah equated the korbanot that are brought for the the offering of korbanot or parts of korbanot. The first mussaf of Rosh Chodesh. Consequently, no proof can be Mishnah establishes that that which is performed more brought the order of mussaf offerings. frequently (tadir) comes first. For example, the daily offering is always offered before the mussaf offering. Indeed, the Gemara (90b) asks our question and leaves the Similarly, the mussaf offering that is brought on Shabbat is matter unresolved. The Rambam consequently rules that offered prior to the mussaf for Rosh Chodesh (when Rosh either may be selected. Nevertheless, the question continues Chodesh falls on Shabbat). to be discussed in other areas of halacha. The second Mishnah provides another rule, that if one is One example is the questions of which should be donned faced with two different korbanot, the more mekudash is first, a tallit or tefillin; the tallit is warn more frequently, offered. The Mishnayot continue by fleshing out this while the tefillin is more mekudash. concept, detailing the order of kedusha as it applies to The Nemukei Yosef maintains that tzitzit should be worn first. korbanot. One example relevant for our discussion is that the Firstly, it is considered equivalent to all mitzvot. blood from a chatat precedes the blood from an olah, since Furthermore, it warn more frequently. The Shagaat Aryeh the blood from a chatat achieves an atonement for the owner. (28) however finds this difficult.
    [Show full text]
  • THE MENORAH the Rabbi’S Voice a Message from Our President
    September/October 2018 ADAS YESHURUN SYNAGOGUE Elul 5778/Tishrei-Cheshvan 5779 THE MENORAH The Rabbi’s Voice A Message From Our President It’s almost time! High Holy Days are coming! A student once asked Rabbi Akiva, since As you know, they are always early or late, your God loves the needy so much, why never “on time”. This year they are early! doesn’t he care for them Himself? Preparations have been underway for a The sage replied that: “Our God, Father of rich and poor alike, wonderful High Holiday Season at AYS. Take a look at the back of wants his children to help each other. The Lord desires a world our synagogue and you will see our fresh paint, just in time for of love.” the holidays! Thank you, Fred Daitch, “House Committee Chair” Over the years, thousands of people have passed through our and the AYS Board of Governors. We have improved upon our humble little shul. They enter our doors seeking the touchstone trial year of our new High Holiday seating plan. Once again, our of existence. We too, come back to the shul to reclaim our sense whole congregation will join for services, sitting together in the of being, and to renew our purpose. main sanctuary. Reserved seats are still available; $50 will buy you your choice of seat for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. If In every congregation, there’s drama that moves from an idea you do not prefer to make the much-appreciated contribution into a fully functional reality. Making things happen and bringing for a reserved seat, you will be graciously seated by our volunteer dreams to life is a bit like a marriage, people touching people.
    [Show full text]
  • Tanya Sources.Pdf
    The Way to the Tree of Life Jewish practice entails fulfilling many laws. Our diet is limited, our days to work are defined, and every aspect of life has governing directives. Is observance of all the laws easy? Is a perfectly righteous life close to our heart and near to our limbs? A righteous life seems to be an impossible goal! However, in the Torah, our great teacher Moshe, Moses, declared that perfect fulfillment of all religious law is very near and easy for each of us. Every word of the Torah rings true in every generation. Lesson one explores how the Tanya resolved these questions. It will shine a light on the infinite strength that is latent in each Jewish soul. When that unending holy desire emerges, observance becomes easy. Lesson One: The Infinite Strength of the Jewish Soul The title page of the Tanya states: A Collection of Teachings ספר PART ONE לקוטי אמרים חלק ראשון Titled הנקרא בשם The Book of the Beinonim ספר של בינונים Compiled from sacred books and Heavenly מלוקט מפי ספרים ומפי סופרים קדושי עליון נ״ע teachers, whose souls are in paradise; based מיוסד על פסוק כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאד בפיך ובלבבך לעשותו upon the verse, “For this matter is very near to לבאר היטב איך הוא קרוב מאד בדרך ארוכה וקצרה ”;you, it is in your mouth and heart to fulfill it בעזה״י and explaining clearly how, in both a long and short way, it is exceedingly near, with the aid of the Holy One, blessed be He. "1 of "393 The Way to the Tree of Life From the outset of his work therefore Rav Shneur Zalman made plain that the Tanya is a guide for those he called “beinonim.” Beinonim, derived from the Hebrew bein, which means “between,” are individuals who are in the middle, neither paragons of virtue, tzadikim, nor sinners, rishoim.
    [Show full text]
  • Jewish Calendar 2015
    January 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 Asara B'Tevet 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Rosh Chodesh Sh'vat 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Provided by www.hebcal.com with a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license February 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Tu BiShvat 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Shabbat Shekalim 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Rosh Chodesh Adar Rosh Chodesh Adar 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Shabbat Zachor Provided by www.hebcal.com with a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license March 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ta'anit Esther Purim Shushan Purim Erev Purim 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Shabbat Parah 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Rosh Chodesh Nisan Shabbat HaChodesh 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Shabbat HaGadol 29 30 31 Provided by www.hebcal.com with a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license April 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 Ta'anit Bechorot Pesach I Erev Pesach 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pesach II Pesach III (CH''M) Pesach IV (CH''M) Pesach V (CH''M) Pesach VI (CH''M) Pesach VII Pesach VIII 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Yom HaShoah 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Rosh Chodesh Iyyar Rosh Chodesh Iyyar Yom HaZikaron Yom HaAtzma'ut 26 27 28 29 30 Provided by www.hebcal.com with a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license May 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pesach Sheni Lag B'Omer 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Yom Yerushalayim Rosh Chodesh Sivan Erev Shavuot 24 25 26 27
    [Show full text]
  • KMS Sefer Minhagim
    KMS Sefer Minhagim Kemp Mill Synagogue Silver Spring, Maryland Version 1.60 February 2017 KMS Sefer Minhagim Version 1.60 Table of Contents 1. NOSACH ........................................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 RITE FOR SERVICES ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 RITE FOR SELICHOT ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.3 NOSACH FOR KADDISH ....................................................................................................................................... 1 1.4 PRONUNCIATION ............................................................................................................................................... 1 1.5 LUACH ............................................................................................................................................................ 1 2. WHO MAY SERVE AS SH’LIACH TZIBUR .......................................................................................................... 2 2.1 SH’LIACH TZIBUR MUST BE APPOINTED .................................................................................................................. 2 2.2 QUALIFICATIONS TO SERVE AS SH’LIACH TZIBUR .....................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • NISSAN Rosh Chodesh Is on Sunday
    84 NISSAN The Molad: Friday afternoon, 4:36. The moon may be sanctified until Shabbos, the 15th, 10:58 a.m.1 The spring equinox: Friday, the 7th, 12:00 a.m. Rosh Chodesh is on Shabbos Parshas Tazria, Parshas HaChodesh. The laws regarding Shabbos Rosh Chodesh are explained in the section on Shabbos Parshas Mikeitz. In the Morning Service, we recite half-Hallel, then a full Kaddish, the Song of the Day, Barchi nafshi, and then the Mourner’s Kaddish. Three Torah scrolls are taken out. Six men are given aliyos for the weekly reading from the first scroll. A seventh aliyah is read from the second scroll, from which we read the passages describing the Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh Mussaf offerings (Bamidbar 28:9-15), and a half-Kaddish is recited. The Maftir, a passage from Parshas Bo (Sh’mos 12:1-20) which describes the command to bring the Paschal sacrifice, is read from the third scroll. The Haftorah is Koh amar... olas tamid (Y’chezkel 45:18-46:15), and we then add the first and last verses of the Haftorah Koh amar Hashem hashomayim kis’ee (Y’shayahu 66:1, 23- 24, and 23 again). Throughout the entire month of Nissan, we do not recite Tachanun, Av harachamim, or Tzidkas’cha. The only persons who may fast during this month are ones who had a disturbing dream, a groom and bride on the day of their wedding, and the firstborn on the day preceding Pesach. For the first twelve days of the month, we follow the custom of reciting the Torah passages describing the sacrifices which the Nesi’im (tribal leaders) offered on these dates at the time the Sanctuary was dedicated in the desert.
    [Show full text]
  • Calendar of Torah and Haftarah Readings 5782 – 5784
    Calendar of Torah and Haftarah Readings 5782 – 5784 2021 – 2024 Notes: The Calendar of Torah readings follows a triennial cycle whereby in the first year of the cycle the reading is selected from the first part of the parashah, in the second year from the middle, and in the third year from the last part. Alternative selections are offered each Shabbat: a shorter reading (around twenty verses) and a longer one (around thirty verses). The readings are a guide and congregations may choose to read more or less from within that part of the parashah. On certain special Shabbatot, a special second (or exceptionally, third) scroll reading is read in addition to the week’s portion. Haftarah readings are chosen to parallel key elements in the section of the Torah being read and therefore vary from one year in the triennial cycle to the next. Some of the suggested haftarot are from taken from k’tuvim (Writings) rather than n’vi’ivm (Prophets). When this is the case the appropriate, adapted blessings can be found on page 245 of the RJ siddur, Seder Ha-t’fillot. This calendar follows the Biblical definition of the length of festivals. Outside Israel, Orthodox communities add a second day to some festivals and this means that for a few weeks their readings may be out of step with Reform/Liberal communities and all those in Israel. The anticipatory blessing for the new month and observance of Rosh Chodesh (with hallel and a second scroll reading) are given for the first day of the Hebrew month.
    [Show full text]
  • Feminism and Judaism
    Judaism Feminism and Judaism Feminism and Judaism Summary: For most of its history, Judaism has traditionally been a patriarchal religion; however, women’s movements since the mid-20th century have advocated for and achieved greater equality for women in many Jewish denominations. Jewish women are now ordained as rabbis in all non-Orthodox denominations, and many Jewish theologians are expanding their field of interest to include the roles and characters of biblical and historical Jewish women. One of the greatest challenges to Judaism in America has been the advent of the women’s movement. For most of its history, Judaism was a patriarchal religious tradition, relegating women to a lower status than men. The traditional domain of women in Jewish life was the home, which—despite the protests of apologists—was not a religious institution with communal influence. Although women were responsible for preparing food, for example, it was the male rabbi who regulated the practice of kashrut, the Jewish dietary laws. Religious activities that took place in the public sphere outside the home, such as study, prayer, and acts of loving-kindness, were considered mandatory only for men. Women occupied a subsidiary space in the Jewish house of prayer and were scarcely admitted to the study house at all. While the Reform movement of the 19th century adopted some measures intended to equalize the role of women in the synagogue, not until the 1970s did the structure of Judaism begin to change in response to the feminist critique. Once the feminist revolution burst on the scene in the 1960s, it was only a matter of time before women’s rising consciousness of social and economic inequities would extend to religious communities as well.
    [Show full text]
  • ROSH CHODESH ELUL Parshat Re'eh
    Mazal Tov Memorial Kaddish Dedicated Daniel and Amy Delson in Memory of on the forethcoming Bar Mitzvah of their Eugen Gluck a giant with the invincible spirit of a son, Samson. Holocaust survivor who strengthened the Jewish people through Torah, Israel and Tzedakah. Joseph and Lieve Guttmann Generous benefactor of the Rabbi Arthur Schneier on the engagement of their grandson, Park East Day School scholarship fund. Beloved father of our devoted members Sidney (Cheryl) Gabriel Leiser to Avigail Hackel. Gluck, and siblings Rosie (Dr. Mark Friedman), Barbara (Alan Weichselbaum), grandfather of Sisterhood Matthew (Shiri) Gluck, and Michael Gluck. Challah for a sweet New Year! Help Generous benefactor who dedicated his life to the support Sisterhood’s Chesed Committee land and people of Israel. and enjoy honey and the Challah Fairy Kenneth Bialkin Challah. distinguished member, prominent leader of the American Jewish community who was in the To order, please call the Synagogue at forefront of United States - Israel solidarity and 212-737-6900. friendship. Sincere condolences to his beloved wife Ann, his partner in the practice of Book of Remembrance tzedaka, devoted daughters Lisa and Johanna and Remember your loved ones in the Book grandchildren, Gideon and Samuel. of Remembrance for 5780. which is May the family be comforted among the currently being complied. mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. Please contact Toby Einsidler at the Yahrzeits Synagogue or register online. Mrs. Rita Weinick - Husband Mrs. Henrietta Berko - Sister Parshat Re’eh Mr. Stanley Davenport - Grandfather August 30-31, 2019 29-30 Av, 5779 Mrs. Susan Rapoport - Father u These are the animals which you Ms.
    [Show full text]